Hope Is a Muscle: Faith, Law, and Living Together with Rabbi Lisa Grushcow

In this episode of Obiter, host Shauna Van Praagh speaks with Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom, to explore how faith communities engage with law, justice, and belonging in a pluralistic society. Rabbi Grushcow offers perspectives on the connections between faith, civic responsibility, and the pursuit of justice. The conversation traces Rabbi Grushcow's personal journey and reflects on the ways in which exclusion and inclusion can shape ethical commitments. The conversation explores pluralism as a defining feature of human communities, and emphasizes the importance of curiosity, respectful disagreement, and the preservation of minority voices in both legal and religious traditions. Rabbi Grushcow speaks candidly about the responsibilities of public leadership, the challenge of fostering genuine belonging, and the delicate balance between speaking out and holding communities together. Obiter is produced by the Law Commission of Canada and hosted by Shauna Van Praagh. The team for this episode includes producer Brian Peebles, associate producer Tiran Bajgiran, and researcher Maxwell Brodie.